The international community has hailed Egypt’s pivotal role in brokering the landmark Sharm El-Sheikh ceasefire and hostage-release agreement, which brought an end to months of devastating conflict in Gaza.
The deal, based on a proposal advanced by U.S. President Donald Trump, was finalized after intensive talks in the Egyptian resort city, underscoring Cairo’s position as a trusted regional mediator.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the agreement as a “much-needed breakthrough,” praising the mediation efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye. He urged all sides to fully implement the accord, emphasizing the need for restraint and humanitarian access.
“All hostages must be released safely and with dignity. The ceasefire must hold permanently. Humanitarian aid must flow freely into Gaza. The suffering must end,” Guterres said in a statement issued by the UN headquarters in New York.
The European Union also commended the diplomatic efforts that led to the ceasefire, with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calling Egypt’s mediation “indispensable for restoring hope and stability.” She added that the EU “deeply values Egypt’s constructive role in bridging divides and keeping channels of dialogue open when others could not.”
From Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said his government “welcomes this critical step” and would closely monitor its implementation, noting that “Egypt’s contribution was key to overcoming the final hurdles in the negotiation process.”
In Berlin, the German Foreign Office praised Egypt’s “tireless diplomacy and responsible leadership,” saying Cairo’s engagement had been instrumental in halting the violence and facilitating the start of humanitarian access to Gaza.
Diplomatic sources confirmed that Egypt, which hosted the final rounds of talks in Sharm El-Sheikh, played a central role in bridging differences between Israel and Hamas. Cairo coordinated closely with Washington, Doha, and Ankara to finalize the framework for a ceasefire, phased Israeli withdrawal, and a large-scale prisoner exchange expected to begin in the coming days.
According to officials familiar with the agreement, the first phase of the ceasefire was approved by Israel’s security cabinet late Thursday, paving the way for the release of 48 Israeli hostages — including 20 alive — in exchange for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Egyptian authorities have also begun restoring access roads and expanding crossing capacity to accommodate up to 600 aid trucks daily, aiming to accelerate relief deliveries to Gaza.
In a statement released Friday, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said Cairo would “continue its efforts to ensure full implementation of the ceasefire and safeguard the humanitarian commitments enshrined in the agreement.”
Meanwhile, policy analysts and think tanks say the Sharm El-Sheikh deal underscores Egypt’s enduring role as a stabilizing force in the Middle East — a nation capable of mediating complex conflicts through trust, neutrality, and regional influence.
As aid convoys begin to move and hostage releases get underway, diplomats in Cairo and New York express cautious optimism that the agreement could mark the start of a sustained de-escalation and reopen the path toward a renewed political dialogue aimed at achieving a two-state solution.
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